Container for beverage cans

ABSTRACT

A container for beverage cans and the like. The container has a hollow circumferentially continuous sidewall means which from top to bottom has a dimension sufficiently great to accommodate a plurality of cans stacked one upon the other. A bottom wall extends across and is connected with the sidewall means to support the cans surrounded by the latter, and a cover is releasably carried by the sidewall means at its top end for releasably covering the interior space where the cans are accommodated. The sidewall means includes inner and outer walls defining between themselves and a hollow chamber for accommodating a medium which may be used for chilling cans within the container, and the space between the inner and outer walls is closed at the bottom by the bottom wall while at the top an endless strip extends along and is fixed with the top edges of the inner and outer wall to close the interior space therebetween.

United States Patent Sidney Sewitch 13 High St., Perth Amboy, NJ. 08861779,480

Nov. 27, 1968 Feb. 23, 1971 [72] Inventor [211 App]. No.

[22] Filed [45] Patented [54] CONTAINER FOR BEVERAGE CANS 5 Claims, 3Drawing Figs.

[52] 0.8. CI 220/10, 150/33; 206/4; 220113. [51] Int. Cl B65d 7/22 [50]Field ofSearch 220/10, l3, 15, 17; 62/430, 457, 371; 190/57 [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 662,541 11/1900 Miskolczy 62/371929,408 7/1909 Drisdale 220/ l 7 1,038,393 9/1912 Koppmann 220/15X1,668,598 5/1928 Osborn 62/457ZQ 2,057,933 10/1936 Brinkman... 220/ s yx2,406,809 9/1946 Davis et a1. 220/13 2,738,890 3/1956 Dahl et al.220/17X 2,745,524 5/1956 Plotkin 3,302,427 2/1967 Stoneretal PrimaryExaminer-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner.lames R. GarrettAttorney-Blunt, Moscovitz, Friedman & Kaplan ABSTRACT: A container forbeverage cans and the like. The container has a hollow circumferentiallycontinuous sidewall means which from top to bottom has a dimensionsufficiently great to accommodate a plurality of cans stacked one uponthe other. A bottom wall extends across and is connected with thesidewall means to support the cans surrounded by the latter, and a coveris releasably carried by the sidewall means at its top end forreleasably covering the interior space where the cans are accommodated.The sidewall means includes inner and outer walls defining betweenthemselves and a hollow chamber for accommodating a medium which may beused for chilling cans within the container, and the space between theinnerand outer walls is closed at the bottom by the bottom wall while atthe top an endless strip extends along and is fixed with the top edgesof the inner and outer wall to close the interior space therebetween.

1 CONTAINER FOR BEVERAGE CANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to containers.

In particular, the present invention relates to containers for articlessuch as beverage cans. Thus, thepresent invention relates in particularto that type of container which is adapted either to maintain chilledbeverage cans in a chilled condition or to chill the cans to atemperature lower than room temperature and then to maintain the cans ina chilled condition for a substantial period of time.

Although containers of this general type are indeed wellknown in a widevariety of forms, all the known constructions leave much to be desired.For example, with all the known constructions, any container which canaccommodate a plurality of cans is undesirably bulky, providingconsiderable inconvenience in transporting such a container. Forexample, it is common to support the beverage cans in a single layerwhere the beverage cans stand in side-by-side relation, in a mannersimilar to their arrangement inthe so-called six'pack assemblies. As aresult of this bulky arrangement it does not become possible toaccommodate the cans in an article such as an attache case, a golf bag,or the like.

Furthermore, the known constructions of this general type are relativelycomplex and undesirably expensive. Thus, there are some known containersof this type where hollow walls are individually swingable with therespect to' each other to define the container, these hollow walls beingindividually filled with a suitable medium for refrigerating purposes.

A further disadvantage of the known constructions resides in the factthat the refrigerating medium is permanently contained within a hollowchamber, which necessitates an undesirable permanent increase in theweight of the entire assembly even when it is not used for chillingbeverage cans or the like.

Furthermore, conventional containers are not capable of being adapted tothe requirements of different individuals so as to be carried about inthe most convenient manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a primary object of thepresent invention to provide a container of the above general type whichwill avoid all the above drawbacks.

In particular, it is the object of the invention to provide a containerwhich is capable of accommodating a plurality of articles such asbeverage cans in such a way that the container with the cans therein caneasily be accommodated in an attache case, a golf club bag, or the like.Furthermore, it is the object of the present invention to provide aconstruction of this type which is far simpler and less expensive thanpreviously known structures.

In addition, it is the object of the invention to provide a structure ofthis type which while being simple and inexpensive is also exceedinglystrong so that a long life of the structure of the invention is assured,even under conditions of rela tively rough use. I

Furthermore, it is the object of the invention to provide a container ofthe above general type which easily can be adapted to the requirementsof any individual for the purpose of achieving the most convenientmanner of carrying the container about. i

Also, it is the object of the invention to provide a construc tion ofthis type which, when it is not in use, will be of extremely lightweight.

The container of the invention has a hollow circumferentially continuoussidewall means the dimension of which from top to bottom is sufficientlygreat to accommodate a stack of beverage cans or the like situated oneupon the other. A bottom wall extends across and is connected to thesidewall means to form a closure for the bottom of the container and tosupport the cans therein. A cover is releasably carried by the sidewallmeans at its top end for releasably closing the interior of thecontainer. The sidewall means has an inner wall and an outer wall spacedfrom the inner wall and defining therewith the hollow interior of thesidewall means which is adapted to accommodate a medium for chilling thecans within the container. The bottom wall extends across this spacebetween and is connected to the bottom edges of the inner and outerwalls so as to close the hollow interior defined between the inner andouter walls. A continuous strip extends along and is fixed to the topedges of the'inner and outer walls so as to close the hollow spacebetween these walls at the top end of the sidewall means, and the coverrests on this strip when it closed the container means. Thus, a suitablerefrigerating medium may be accommodated betweenthe inner and outerwalls of the sidewall means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obviousand will in part be apparent from the specifications.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combinations of elements-,and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scopeof'the invention will be indicated in the claims. 9

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TI'IE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of theinvention, reference is bad to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 1

FIG. I is a perspective elevation of a container of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional'elevation taken along line 2-2 of FIG.1 in the direction of the arrows and showing the structure in greaterdetail and at a scale which is enlarged as compared to FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 inthe direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, thecontainer 10 of the present invention which is illustrated in FIG. 1includes a circumferentially continuous sidewall means 12. This sidewallmeans 12 is made up of an inner wall 14 and an outer wall 16 which isspaced from the inner wall 14 to define therewith a hollow interiorspace 18, so as to form the hollow circumferentially continuous sidewallmeans 12. The walls 14 and 16 are made of a single layer of sheetmaterial which preferably is a metal such as aluminum. As is apparentfrom FIG. 3, the configuration of the sidewall means 12, in crosssection, is not precisely oval or elliptical, but rather is that of apair of flat front and rear walls extending parallel to each other andjoined at their ends by semicircular walls. In this way it becomespossible, by suitable dimensions of the container 10 from side-to-sideto accommodate in the interior of the container a pair of stacks of cans20 shown in side-by-side relation in FIG. 3.

Thus, the inner wall 14' and outer wall 16 of the sidewall means 12 areeach made of a single layer of sheet material which preferably is ametal such as aluminum. The dimension of the sidewall means 12 fromtopto bottom is sufficiently great to accommodate a stack of cans 20.Thus, as particularly apparent from FIG. 2 each stack includes threecans 20 situated one upon the other in the illustrated example. In thisway the container 10 of the invention can accommodate six cans 20arranged in two stacks in side-by-side relation, and as a result thedimension of the container means 10 from front-torear is so small thatthe entire container 10 can easily be accommodated in an attache case, agolf bag, or the like.

The container 10 further includes a bottom wall 22 which may be made ofthe same sheet metal as the walls 14 and 16 and which is also in theform of a single layer of sheet material. This wall 22, which may alsobe made of aluminum, if desired, extends across the bottom edges of thewalls 14 and I6 and is fluidtightly fixed to these bottom edges in anysuitable way, so that the bottom wall 22 serves not only to support cans20 in the interior of the container but also to fluidtightly close thespace 18 between the walls 14 and 16, at the bottom end of this space.

The sidewall means further includes an upper endless strip 24 which mayalso be made of a metal such as aluminum and which extends between andis fixed to the top edges of the walls 14 and 16 in a fluidtight manner,as by being welded or otherwise connected with these walls, in themanner indicated schematically in FIG. 2. Thus, the endless strip 24which has the configuration of the horizontal cross section of the spacebetween the walls 14 and 16, closes the space 18 at its top end.

The strip 24 is formed with at least one opening 26 having the steppedconfiguration illustrated at the upper left part of FIG. 2. This opening26 is adapted to receive a plug 28 made of rubber or other suitableflexible resilient material, so that whenever desired the plug 28 can beremoved. When the plug 28 is in the position shown in FIG. 2, itfluidtightly closes the opening 26 so as to maintain the interior space18 closed off from the outer atmosphere. It will be noted that the plug28 is substantially flush with the upper surface of the strip 24, whenclosing the interior space 18, so that the plug does not extend upwardlybeyond the strip 24.

This interior space 18 of the sidewall means 12 is adapted to receive amedium which may simply be tap water which can be introduced through theopening 26 when the plug 28 is removed. Such a medium will extend to anelevation somewhat short of the strip 24 so as to leave an expansionspace 30 within the chamber 18 at the top thereof. With such a mediumwithin the space 18, the entire container can be placed in a freezer sothat the medium will become chilled forming ice, for example. Of course,with the tap water or the like situated within the space 18, the plug 28is replaced.

The container 10 further includes a removable cover 32 made of anysuitable plastic or metal sheet material and having a depending flange34 extending around and frictionally engaging the exterior side surfaceof the wall 16 at the top end of the latter, so that the cover 32 issimply frictionally retained on the container. It will be noted thatwhen the cover 32 is in a position closing the container it simply restsupon the strip 24. Because the plug 28 does not project upwardly beyondthe strip 24, the cover 32 rests directly on the strip 24 along theentire length thereof so that the single sheet which forms the cover 32does not extend the interior space upwardly beyond the strip 24.

The container 10 of the invention is completed by a strap 36 made of anysuitable plastic sheet material or the like and forming a handle orsling by which the entire container 10 can conveniently be carriedabout. A button 38 permanently fixes one end of the strap 36 to thesidewall 16 with this button 38 having a fluidtight connection with thewall 16. The other end of the strap 36 has a buttonhole opening or thelike capable of slipped onto the head 40 of a second button 42 which isfluidtightly fixed to the wall 16 beneath the button 38. Thus, the strap36 may assume the solid-line position indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2,enabling the strap 36 to extend'around the shoulder of the individualwho carries the container 10, so that in this way the container can becarried aboutin a very comfortable manner.

However, the wall 16 has as its front portion a second button 44identical with the button 40 and capable of accommodating the strap 36when it has the dot-dash line position shown at the top of FIG. 2, sothat in this case the strap extends over the top of the container andcan conveniently be grasped in the hand of the operator to be carriedabout very conveniently.

In order to use the container of the invention the operator will removethe plug 28 and locate the tap water or the like in the space 18,leaving a free space 30 as described above. Then the entire container,after the plug 28 has been replaced, is placed in a suitable freezer sothat the medium in the space 18 will become suitably chilled.

Thereafter, the user of the container may place the cans 20 therein, andif these cans are initially chilled they will remain chilled, while ifthey are put are put in at room temperature, the refrigerated medium inthe space 18 will serve to chill the containers and maintain themchilled.

With the cover 32 placed on the container the entire container 10 may beaccommodated in a golf bag, attache case, or the like, as pointed outabove. However, it is also possible to use the strap 36 in either of itspositions for carrying the container about.

It is to be noted that although possible for heat to flow readilythrough the walls 16, nevertheless it has been found from experiencethat the structure described above and shown in the the drawing iscapable of maintaining the cans 20 chilled for a length of timesufficiently great for almost all purposes.

Thus, the simple container consists only of the inner and outer walls 14and 16 and the bottom wall 22 all of which are formed of a single layerof sheet metal, so that the cost of the container is very low while atthe same time it is exceedingly rugged since the metal walls canwithstand rough usage without any particular damage, and even if theouter walls 16 should become slightly dented, for example, there stillwill be no undesirable influence on the operation of the structure.

When the structure is not in use, the plug 28 can be removed so that therefrigerating medium can be poured out. As a result, when the structureof the invention is not used it is extremely light, as contrasted withknown constructions where the refrigerating medium is permanentlymaintained in the walls of the structure so that even when it is notused it is quite heavy to carry about.

The strap 36 of course provides an added convenience which also is notavailable with known constructions.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and,since certain changes may be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intendedthat all matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

lclaim:

1. A container for beverage cans and the like, comprising an elongatedhollow circumferentially continuous sidewall means having a dimensionfrom top to bottom sufficiently great to accommodate a plurality of cansstacked'one upon the other, a bottom wall fixed to and extending acrossthe bottom of said sidewall means to a form a wall on which the stack ofcans rests, and a removable cover for removably covering said sidewallmeans at the top thereof, said sidewall means including a singlecontinuous, uninterrupted metal sheet having top and bottom edges andforming an inner wall, said inner wall having a pair of opposed flatparallel front and rear wall portions and a pair of opposed end wallportions of semicircular cross section, and said sidewall meansincluding a second continuous, uninterrupted sheet of metal having topand bottom continuous, uninterrupted peripheral edges and surroundingand spaced from said inner wall to form an outer wall spaced from saidinner wall and defining with the latter a chamber for receiving a mediumfor chilling cans surrounded by said sidewall means, said second sheetof metal also having a pair of opposed flat parallel wall portions and apair of opposed end wall portions of semicircular cross section, and theflat and semicircular wall portions of said outer wall being in opposedsubstantially parallel spaced relation respectively with the tlat andsemicircular portions of said inner wall, said bottom wall closing thespace between said inner and outer walls at the bottom ends of thelatter, and said bottom wall also being formed of a single sheet ofmetal extending across and beyond the bottom edge of said inner wallradially outwardly to the bottom edge of said outer wall, said inner andouter walls having equal heights so that the top edges thereof are atthe same elevation, and a circumferentially continuous strip extendingalong said top edges of saidflinner and outer walls and closing thespace therebetween at the top end of said space, said cover when in aclosed position resting on said strip, said cover also being composed ofa single sheet and said cover engaging said strip along theentire lengththereof and forming with said inner wall an interior container spacewhich does not extend above said strip, said sidewall means having adimension between said semicircular end portions thereof sufficientlygreat to accommodate a plurality of stacks of cans in side-by-siderelation. 7 1

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said strip is formed with anopening through which access may be had to the space between said innerand outer walls of said sidewall means, and a plug carried by said stripfor releasably closing said opening thereof, said plug when in a closedposition closing the latter opening being substantiallyflush with a topsurface of said strip so that said plug does not extend above said stripand thus enables said cover to lie flush against said strip along theentire length thereof.

lclairn:

l. A container for beverage cans and the like, comprising an elongatedhollow circumferentially continuous sidewall means having a dimensionfrom top to bottom'sufficiently great to accommodate a plurality of cansstacked one upon the other, a bottom wall fixed to and extending acrossthe bottom of said sidewall means to form a wall on which the stack ofcans rests, and a removable cover for removably covering said sidewallmeans at the top thereof, said sidewall means including a singlecontinuous, uninterrupted metal sheet having top and bottom edges andforming an inner wall, said inner wall having a pair of opposed flatparallel front end rear wall portions and a pair of opposed end wallportions of semicircular cross section, and said sidewall meansincluding'asecond continuous, uninterrupted sheet of metal having topand bottom continuous, uninterrupted peripheral edges and surroundingand spaced from said inner wall to form an outer wall spaced from saidinner wall and defining with the latter a chamber for receiving a mediumfor chilling cans surrounded by said sidewall means, said second sheetof metal also having a pair of opposed flat parallel wall portions and apair of opposed end wall portions of semicircular cross section, and theflat and semicircular wall portions of said. outer wall being in opposedsubstantially parallel spaced relation respectively with the flat andsemicircular portions of said inner wall, said bottom wall closing thespace between said inner and outer walls at the bottom ends of thelatter, and said bottom wall also being formed of a single sheet ofmetal extending across and beyond the bottom edge of said inner wallradially outwardly to the bottom edge of said outer wall, said inner andouter walls having equal heights so that the top edges thereof are atthe same elevation, and a circumferentially continuous strip extendingalong said top edges of said inner and outer walls and closing the spacetherebetween at the top end of said space, said cover when in a closedposition resting on said strip, said cover also being composed of asingle sheet and said cover engaging said strip along the entire lengththereof and forming with said inner wall an interior container spacewhich does not extend above said strip, said sidewall means having adimension between said semicircular end portions thereof sufficientlygreat to accommodate a plurality of stacks of cans in side-by-siderelation.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said strip is formed with anopening through which access may be had to the space between said innerand outer walls of said sidewall means, and a plug carried by said stripfor releasably closing said opening thereof, said plug when in a closedposition closing the latter'opening being substantially flush with a topsur face of said strip so that said plug does'not extend above saidstrip and thus enables said cover to lie flush against said strip alongthe entire length thereof.

3. he combination of claim 1 and wherein a strap is carried by saidsidewall means at the exterior thereof to facilitate carrying of thecontainer, said strap having one end located at a predetermined positionof the container, and a pair of fastening means carried by thecontainerfor releasably fastening the other end of the strap thereto atdifferent locations situating the strap in one position at onlyone-exterior side surface of said sidewall means and in another positionextending over the top of said sidewall means.

4. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said sidewall means has fromfront-to-rear a dimension sufficiently great only to accommodate asingle can in the front-to-rear direction.

5, The combination of claim 4 andwherein said dimensions of saidsidewall means are sufiiciently great to accommodate two stacks of cansin side-by-side relation with three cans being situated in each stack.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,565,277 Dated February 23, 1971 Inventor s) S IDNEY 'SEWITCH It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the front page, line 2 the address reading 13 High St. should read134 High St.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of July 1971.

(SEAL) Attest EDWARD M.FLE1CHER, JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. AttestingQfficer Comisaioner of Patents

1. A container for beverage cans and the like, comprising an elongated hollow circumferentially continuous sidewall means having a dimension from top to bottom sufficiently great to accommodate a plurality of cans stacked one upon the other, a bottom wall fixed to and extending across the bottom of said sidewall means to a form a wall on which the stack of cans rests, and a removable cover for removably covering said sidewall means at the top thereof, said sidewall means including a single continuous, uninterrupted metal sheet having top and bottom edges and forming an inner wall, said inner wall having a pair of opposed flat parallel front and rear wall portions and a pair of opposed end wall portions of semicircular cross section, and said sidewall means including a second continuous, uninterrupted sheet of metal having top and bottom continuous, uninterrupted peripheral edges and surrounding and spaced from said inner wall to form an outer wall spaced from said inner wall and defining with the latter a chamber for receiving a medium for chilling cans surrounded by said sidewall means, said second sheet of metal also having a pair of opposed flat parallel wall portions and a pair of opposed end wall portions of semicircular cross section, and the flat and semicircular wall portions of said outer wall being in opposed substantially parallel spaced relation respectively with the flat and semicircular portions of said inner wall, said bottom wall closing the space between said inner and outer walls at the bottom ends of the latter, and said bottom wall also being formed of a single sheet of metal extending across and beyond the bottom edge of said inner wall radially outwardly to the bottom edge of said outer wall, said inner and outer walls having equal heights so that the top edges thereof are at the same elevation, and a circumferentially continuous strip extending along said top edges of said inner and outer walls and closing the space therebetween at the top end of said space, said cover when in a closed position resting on said strip, said cover also being composed of a single sheet and said cover engaging said strip along the entire length thereof and forming with said inner wall an interior container space which does not extend above said strip, said sidewall means having a dimension between said semicircular end portions thereof sufficiently great to accommodate a plurality of stacks of cans in side-by-side relation.
 2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said strip is formed with an opening through which access may be had to the space between said inner and outer walls of said sidewall means, and a plug carried by said strip for releasably closing said opening thereof, said plug when in a closed position closing the latter opening being substantially flush with a top surface of said strip so that said plug does not extend above said strip and thus enables said cover to lie flush against said strip along the entire length thereof.
 2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said strip is formed with an opening through which access may be had to the space between said inner and outer walls of said sidewall means, and a plug carried by said strip for releasably closing said opening thereof, said plug when in a closed position closing the latter opening being substantially flush with a top surface of said strip so that said plug does not extend above said strip and thus enables said cover to lie flush against said strip along the entire length thereof. I claim:
 3. The combination of claim 1 and wherein a strap is carried by said sidewall means at the exterior thereof to facilitate carrying of the container, said strap having one end located at a predetermined position of the container, and a pair of fastening means carried by the container for releasably fastening the other end of the strap thereto at different locations situating the strap in one position at only one exterior side surface of said sidewall means and in another position extending over the top of said sidewall means.
 4. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said sidewall means has from front-to-rear a dimension sufficiently great only to accommodate a single can in the front-to-rear direction.
 5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein said dimensions of said sidewall means are sufficiently great to accommodate two stacks of cans in side-by-side relation with three cans being situated in each stack. 